‘Next’ (2006) a weirdly engineered novel about genetics
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Crichton experiments with structure, making “Next” as much a scrapbook as a plotted story.
Comedy
‘Next’ (2006) a weirdly engineered novel about genetics
‘Curse of the Jade Scorpion’ (2001) a mildly jazzy jaunt
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Hurt by loose editing and some miscast roles, this 1940-set mystery-comedy isn’t what it could’ve been.
Keaton back for cozy ‘Manhattan Murder Mystery’ (1993)
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): The last Allen-Keaton team-up shares DNA with “Only Murders in the Building” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
‘Scary Movie 4’ (2006) cruises into disaster-horror mashup
‘Scary Movie’ Week (Review): The fourth entry in the “trilogy” drifts from its roots by targeting disaster-movie clichés.
Zucker brings old-school flavor to ‘Scary Movie 3’ (2003)
‘Scary Movie’ Week (Review): Parody veterans Zucker and Proft bring a goofier flavor as they take the reins from the Wayans Brothers.
‘Scary Movie 2’ (2001) goes for bigger gross-outs, grosses
‘Scary Movie’ Week (Review): Anna Faris and the Wayans Brothers decide to make a sequel after all, this time targeting ghost flicks.
‘Scary Movie’ (2000) makes a funny spoof out of a parody
‘Scary Movie’ Week (Review): “Scary Movie” is a hilarious spoof of the slasher boom, but the big takeaway is the breakthrough turn by Anna Faris.
CBS’ ‘Ghosts’ is a pale shadow of anything original, funny
First episode impressions (TV review): “Ghosts” encapsulates everything that’s uninspired about the modern sitcom genre, especially on network TV.
‘Alice’ (1990) luxuriates in the lifestyle it criticizes
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): Mia Farrow is outshone by the supporting cast, but “Alice” is wonderful to look at under Carlo di Palma’s lens.
‘To Rome with Love’ (2012) a funny batch of goofy skits
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): This is more like a day of vacation with Woody as a storyteller than it is a film. Hey, you could do worse.